GOLF PRIDE JUNIOR CLASSIC
The Peninsula Club
Cornelius, North Carolina
July 19-22, 2004
O’MAHONY TOPS LEADERBOARD AT THE PENINSULA CLUB
Carter grabs first in Girls Division
CORNELIUS, N.C. – Gregory O’Mahony of Tequesta, Fla., carded a first-round 66 to grab the early lead at the Golf Pride Junior Classic. Dori Carter of Valdosta, Ga., carded a even-par 72, placing herself atop the leaderboard in the Girls Division.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Golf Pride Junior Classic is being held at The Peninsula Club in Cornelius, N.C. The 54-hole stroke play event features 99 of the nation’s premier junior golfer, ages 12-18, from 13 states, including 41 North Carolina residents. The Boys Division is playing at 6,972 yards (par 71) ,while the Girls Division is playing at 5,979 (par 72).
In just his third AJGA event, 17-year-old O’Mahony was pleased with his round and early two-stroke lead following his 5-under-par 66.
“I hit the ball really well today,” O’Mahony said. “The greens were perfect and I only missed one putt inside of six feet. I took advantage of shots when I had them all day today and will try to take advantage of those shots again tomorrow.”
The University of South Florida signee is looking to improve on his best AJGA finish, 17th at the 2004 PING Junior at Mirasol.
“I’ve been working on my patience lately and it definitely paid off today,” O’Mahony said. “This event will give me great experience that will help me next year.”
Following a 3-under-par 68 in Tuesday’s first round, Timothy Tang of North Charleston, S.C., trails O’Mahony by one stroke and currently sits in second. Georgia natives Hayes Brown of Atlanta and Bryant Hare of St. Simons Island share third place after carding rounds of 3-under-par 68. With matching rounds of 2-under-par 69, Parker McKoy of Raleigh, N.C., Bryce Mueller of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Peter Malnati of Dandridge, Tenn., are currently tied for fifth place following Tuesday’s first-round action.
In the Girls Division, 17-year-old Carter leads by one stroke following a first-round 37-35—72.
“My first nine was up-and-down but my back nine was a lot more consistent,” Carter said, who carded three birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey on the front nine.
The rising senior got her round going after recovering from a bad chip by draining a 15-foot putt from the fringe on No. 12.
“That putt really set the tone for the rest of my round,” Carter remarked. “I had less bogeys and more pars on the back because I putted well and was getting on the greens with my irons.”
Ashley Mylton of Charlotte, N.C., Tyrette Metzendorf of Winter Haven, Fla., and Emily Street of Forest City, N.C., are tied for second place, one stroke behind Carter, after carding matching 73s.
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The largest association of its kind, the AJGA has a junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.
Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex Watch U.S.A., a supporter of the AJGA since 1983, became an AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.
The Golf Pride Junior Classic will resume Wednesday with second-round tee times beginning at 7 a.m. and continuing until 11:48 a.m. off the No. 1 tee. For more information on the Golf Pride Junior Classic, contact Tournament Headquarters at (704) 896-7060 or visit ajga.org.
